Here is What We Have to Know about Regional Election Policy Changes

SEAToday.com, Jakarta – On Thursday (8/22), The Indonesian House of Representatives was set for a plenary session to finalize the regional elections law. This bill will formalize changes to the regional elections law, particularly regarding the threshold for political parties to nominate candidates and the age requirements for candidates.

Controversy arises, as on Tuesday (8/20) the constitutional court decided that political parties or joint political parties, can now propose candidates for regional elections, despite having no seat in the house of representatives. The constitutional court also rejected suits regarding changes in minimum age, within the regional elections law.

Achmad Baidowi, Member of the House of Representatives of Indonesia said, “the Parliament and the government did not change and cancel the Constitutional Court's decision but adopted the Constitutional Court's decision with more detail. The details are related to parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties that will be regulated separately. Because the DPR's authority is to create new norms. In every Constitutional Court decision, the House is allowed to create new norms.”

However, the plenary session is anticipated to be a decisive moment surrounding the legislative adjustments for the upcoming regional election. The general election commission, will start the registration on Tuesday (8/27).